BREAKING: Devils Trade Vitek Vanecek to Sharks for Kaapo Kähkönen

NEWARK — The New Jersey Devils traded for not only one, but two goaltenders at the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday.

The Devils acquired goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Vitek Vanecek and a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. No salary retention is involved in the deal.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the trade.

The deal comes off the back of general manager Tom Fitzgerald dealing both Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller to the Winnipeg Jets for draft compensation. The Devils acquired Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens in between.

Kähkönen (27) is in the final year of his contract signed with the Sharks which carries an average annual value of $2.75 million.

In 27 starts and 31 games this season with San Jose, the Finnish goaltender accrued a 6-20-3 record with a .895 SV% and 3.81 GAA. According to MoneyPuck, Kähkönen ranks 61st among all goaltenders in the NHL with -1.8 goals saved above expected.

The Devils have reassigned goaltenders Nico Daws and Akira Schmid to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, according to the AHL transactions sheet.

Vanecek’s last start with the Devils was on Feb. 10th against the Carolina Hurricanes. Vanecek made 31 saves on 32 shots in the overtime loss.

The Czech goaltender has been on injured reserve with a lower-body injury since Feb. 20th.

Vanecek leaves the Devils as the NHL’s third-worst goaltender of 2023-24 registering -11.2 goals saved above expected. In 32 games this season, Vanecek accrued a 17-9-3 record with a 3.18 GAA and .890 SV%.

It appears now that the Devils will push for the playoffs with a goaltending tandem of Allen and Kähkönen.

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